Breast Cancer Awareness Month: information and history
Caelan Warren, Staff Writer
The first effort to bring about awareness in the form of a month-long event was in the United States in October of 1985 and was founded by the American Cancer Society. Throughout breast cancer awareness month, many awareness-driven fundraising activities take place such as walks, runs, auctions, concerts and other charity events.
As college students, finding time throughout the day to do self-care and attempt to be more aware of personal health status is not always easy. With never-ending temptations to make bad life decisions, even minor ones such as diet and exercise, it can be hard to stay on top of these choices.
Amidst the many new obstacles one may be facing, cancer may not be the top priority; however, breast cancer is the most deadly cancer among women ages 20-59.
In 2018, more than two million new cases of breast cancer were reported. But this does not only affect women. Although not as common, men are also at risk for developing breast cancer.
So what are some ways to help prevent breast cancer now? According to the American Cancer Society, keeping a healthy lifestyle is always smart and can lessen your risk greatly. Quitting smoking and limiting the intake of alcohol also reduce risk. All these habits can be created now, both to create a healthy lifestyle and limit risk.
Knowing if there’s any history of breast cancer in one’s immediate family is also something to look into. Having an immediate family member with breast cancer roughly doubles the risk of a diagnosis.
For a disease like cancer, health professionals have advised being well-informed about personal level of risk, getting tested in the form of mammograms or self-screenings and potentially biopsies.
The symbol of breast cancer awareness month is the color pink and the single-loop ribbon. The story of the pink ribbon sees its inspiration from one woman’s use of yellow ribbons to symbolize her hope for her husband to come home after being captured in combat in 1979. Eleven years later, AIDS awareness activists turned the ribbon red to bring awareness to the AIDS epidemic.
In 1982, Susan G. Komen turned the ribbon pink for breast cancer awareness and a logo for the Komen Race for the Cure® was designed using the symbol. In 1991, survivors and participants at the New York Komen Race for the Cure® were given pink ribbons to wear during the race. While the pink ribbon can be used to raise awareness for breast cancer, a “running ribbon” was designed for designated use of the Susan G. Komen foundation for the cure.
Many companies release breast cancer awareness products throughout the month. In 2000, Estée Lauder Inc., a cosmetics company, launched Global Landmarks Illumination, a project in which major global landmarks are illuminated with pink light for a day or so in October. Some of these landmarks include the Sydney Opera House, Niagara Falls, the Brandenburg Gate, the Empire State Building and the Tower of London.
The commercialization of breast cancer awareness month has been a source of controversy due to potentially misleading information on the solutions and causes of breast cancer. Some have claimed the month of October has become more about promoting companies, mammograms or ensuring mammograms stay cost-effective rather than empowering survivors and those battling breast cancer.
Breast cancer awareness month — for many individuals fighting it, helping patients navigate it or working hard eradicating it — means heightening the thought process about breast cancer and advocating for the continuation of research on the solutions and causes.
*Featured Image: Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com
